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The Tragic Story Of Partition

One of the most important chapters in the Indian history (and equally so for Pakistan) is the partition of the nation in 1947. This article is a review of the book “The Tragic Story Of Partition” by H V Sheshadri.

While writing book-review, I have to be sure that I do not rewrite the same book in detail. So my aim will be brief introduction. At the same time, the information about book should be precise and to the point, so the reader understands the subject and desires to read the said book. I will so that.

On 15-August-1947, India was going to be "Independent" from British rule. What events lead to partition of India in two is the subject of this book. Every patriotic and history loving person must read this book.

The author H V Sheshadri took all the pains to go into the details of this history with reference to Shripati Shasri’s (History professor of Pune) lectures in 1972 at Bengaluru – and – he did not hesitate in taking help of reporter K R Malkani, historian Devendra Swarup and others.

Was the partition of India a must? Answer is big "vents leading to NO". This book describes in details the events leading to partition and tells in the end how "Re-Union” is not impossible.

I will tell this in three parts:

Chronology,

Interpretation and

Reunion.

1. Chronology of event leading to partition:

1857
Freedom Struggle: Hindus and Muslims protested British rule in one voice and started freedom struggle. Here is when British rulers found out the way "DIVIDE AND RULE" policy as the only way out for the continuation of the rule. So they promoted Muslims and gave them a free gift of land captured from Hindus during the said war. (40)

1885
1. Indian National Congress was formed by British Hume for support of British rule. The purpose told was social and political reforms.
2. Christianity: British sent missionaries for conversion of poor, backward, forest residents and Harijans who supported British after conversion to Christianity.
3. English education and forming elite class: Lord Mackole gave special teachings of English to qualify Indians. The ‘English knowing’ new class of people was formed who separated themselves from other Indians to believe them 'elite' class – superior to others. They unknowingly united themselves with English people and supported them.

1888
Anglo-Oriental-Defense Association: Theodor Beck (Principal of Aligarh College) formed this association for Muslims right protection and for getting support to British rule from Muslims.

1899
Indian National Congress at Lucknow annual meeting gave special attractions to Muslims like free tickets for conference, free food, free Muslim traditional dress and Rs. 10 daily allowance at conference to get their support against British and make them loyal to Congress.

1905
Division of Bengal: Viceroy Lord Courzan declared division of Bengal for making it Muslims heaven known as Dar-ul-Islam. (46)

1906
1. Viceroy Lord Minto encouraged Muslims against Hindus with the help of Nawab Mohsin-Ul-Mulk of Aligarh.
2. Monte-Minto Law for separate voters council for Muslims and Sikhs to divide them from Hindus. (51)
3. 30-December-1906 Muslim league formed at All Muslim conference held at Dhaka under leadership of Nawab Salimulla Khan and declared Aga Khan as permanent Chairman.

1915
Congress-Muslim league pact on giving separate voting right on the basis of religion to Muslim and Sikh. (71)

1920
Khilafat Movement telling Khalifa of Turkistan as the Sultan representing Allah and considered head of Islamic world.
Gandhiji agreed to support Khilafat movement and congress followed. (76)

1947
3-June-1947: Declaration. British Government, Indian National Congress and Muslim League agreed and declared partition of India. (212)

2. Interpretation and Lesson:

Why partition of India took place?

British Government's “Divide and Rule” policy.

Muslim League leaders' fighting and religious policy (particularly of Aga Khan and Mohmad-Ali-Jinah).

Indian National Congress' wrong politics and surrender (Mahatma Gandhiji and Rajaji in particular).

Gandhiji told people in general are in favour of partition of India. This was not based on truth or facts. Actually majority of Hindus and Muslims were against partition and were actively opposing it, but he opted to ignore. (213)

Indian National Congress, not only agreed to partition but it did not oppose on any point put forward. (213)

Neither British nor Muslim League was strong enough to force Congress to accept partition.
Simply, if Congress would have stuck to demand of "United India", nobody could have succeeded. (257)

This is the most important interpretation...

The only reason for partition was Congress – few Congress leaders who were old, tired, not ready to fight any more and having political desire of getting power at the earliest. All this made them accept partition without much protest and fight. (274)

This demands youth to join politics, instead of living it in the hands of tired, frustrated and idle old.

3. Can India, Pakistan and Bangladesh unite again? (276)

Answer is big "YES".

Examples in the History of all the divided nations trying and on the way to success are following:

North and South Korea

Vietnam

East and West Germany

Ulster and Ireland

Reasons:

Army and Defense expense of all three is high.

Trade and Commerce demands unity for progress (Common market of Europe is the best example to follow).

All three are complimentary to one-another if united.

Many blood relations are divided in three countries making meeting difficult or say nearly impossible.

People of all three countries desire to unite. They know it is the dirty world politics of America and such other countries that does not allow unity.

Well, all we need is intense and sincere desire leading to try for union.

After Parsis, Anavils (Anavil Brahmins, અનાવિલ બ્રાહ્મણ ) are the fastest decreasing community. The total population of Anavils around the world does not exceed two lakhs figure and that is also fast reducing day by day. Days are not far, beyond a century or so, when they will have to be seen/found in records, photos and videos. Why?

Because,
- they get married too late,
- many are dying unmarried,
- they wait for the career to be settled before the first (and maybe the only) childbirth.

One of the recent off-bit topics I’ve read, this one book about ‘Mumbai Mafia’ has been the most interesting, well-researched and well-written. Here is an excerpt from Dawood Ibrahim's journey from “Dongri to Dubai”, and the six decades of Mumbai mafia.